Hedge trimmer



W. J. HEALY HEDGE TRIMMER Oct. 17,. 1933.

Filed Oct. '19, 19:52

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 awucm bo'z 3 vi tme so 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. H EALY HEDGE TRIMMER Filed Oct. 19. 1932 Oct. 17, 1933.

W. J. HEALY HEDGE TRIMMER Oct. 17, 1933.

3 Sheets$heet 3 Filed Oct. 19. 1932 m\ Wm 0 m flan WW 5910 M Patented Oct. 17 1933 V UNITED STATES The invention aims primarily to provide a new Land improved machine which may be moved along a hedge to accuratel /and rapidly trim. the

same.

A further object is to provide. a machine including unique provision whereby a reciprocatory.

trimming mechanismthereof may either be p0- sitioned horizontally for trimming the top of a hedge, or vertically for trimming the sides thereof.

Another object is to provide for properly positioning the cutter mechanismwith respect to the hedge, even though the ground may be inclined transversely of the hedge and the supporting truck-of the machine must travel on the inclined surface. I

Yet another object is to provide a simple con: struction permitting the trimming mechanism to be disposed at either side of the supporting truck, so that the latter may travel in either direction at either side of .the hedge,- when trimming the latter. l

A still further object is to provide a structurewhich is readily adaptable to'slight change to permit its 'use in trimming excessively high hedges.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view. the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accom-.

' panying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical vsectionaLview partly in elevation, as indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the

trimming mechanism being shown in its hori-,

Fig. 7 is-a horizontal sectional view on line "Y -7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the motor-driven shaft which overates thegearingfor reciprocating the sickle bar of the trimming mechanism. v

The specific construction illustrated in the drawings, will be rather definitely described,v

with the understanding however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

A wheeled truck 10 is provided having a suit-1 able handle 11 for vmoving it. alongside. of 'a.

hedge to be trimmed, said truck. having a hori-v zontal platform l2lupon which rests. the lmriw zontal base 13 of a vertically extensible and re-j tractible standard 14, said. base beingconnected with said platform by means of a vertical pivot 15. The standard 14 supports the trimming mechanism 16 and its operating means, and by rotating saidstandard and the base 13, about the .pivot 15, said trimming mechanism 16 may be disposed at either side of the truck 10. When the, base 13 is in either of, the positions to which it may be turned, portions of said base underlie a pair of horizontal plates 17 andlil whose outer ends are downwardly offset and secured at119 PATENT oFFi'CE and 20 to the platformlz, thus assisting in. sta- In the construction shown, the standard 14 is; 1

formed of a lower fixed section 24 and an upper slidable. section 25 telescoped therewith, the two shape shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the standard section 24 is welded or otherwise secured to a horizontal. plate 26 forming the major portion of the rotatable base 13, the remainder or this base being formed by a horizontal plate 27 having an upwardly. projecting portion: 28

secured against, the outer. side or thestandard. A suitable brace 29 is secured to the standard section 24 and to the plate '27,. and a portionof this ,brace constitutesthe stop 23 abovedescribed.

section 24.

A can 30 is removably titted upon .theiipper end of the slidable standard section 25' and is secured thereto by set screws or the like, 31. When this cap, is removed, a longer standard section may besubstituted' for the section 25,

. Ia sections being preferablyoi the cross-sectional adapting the machine for trimming much taller hedges.v Connected with this cap, in anydesired manner such as indicated at .32, is the.

upper. end o1' a rod'33, said ,rod having threaded engagement with a hand wheel 34 restingupon a tubular. standard 35 which .isl'secur d tcfan rises ,i'rorn. the base 13. The parts 33, 34 and 3.5 constitute a Jack ,for vertic lly ext ndi the. standard 14 toanydeslred heightens tor hol ing it at such height. during hed eitrimmina A150,. this Jack is of. course usable to a l 1ow lowering of .thetrimming mechani m wh n ver required. It a standard section substituted;-

the section 25,, be of excessive length, it

ming mechanism 16 and its driving means, and

by. swin n said, suppo t the pr per extent about the hinge means 3'7, said trimmin mech anism may also be properly positioned with respect to the hedge, whether the ground on which the truck must rest, be parallel with the top of. the hedge or inclined, with respect thereto.

5 After properly adjusting the support 36', it is heldby means of features of construction described below. 1

A horizontal plate '38 'lies against the under side of the support 36 and is secured thereto,

said plate being provided with parallel downwardly projecting plates 39 which" straddle the cap 30.

inner, sides oflthe arms 40', and wing-nuts 44 2G areprovided on'th'e ends of said bolt. By tight ening' these nuts, the arms, 40 and plates '39 are frictionally clamped togetl'ier to hold the support 36. against accidental. tilting about the.

hinge, means 37. Loosening of one or. bothfnuts zg' however, allows adju fi fi ebout said hing-eh means.

The ,trimming mechanism 16 embodies upper and lower cutter Ibars 45' and "46jand "a sickle bar 47 between saidcutter bars. Theupper and ao' lower bars 45 and 46 are spaced'apart by sleeves or the'like, 48 (see Fig. 6) and bolts 49 pass 1.

through these sleeves and through said bars, thereby rigidly securing said upper and lower bars together in spaced relation, to accommo-' 35' date the sicklebar 4'7. This sickle bar is pr,0-'

vided with, slots '50 receiving the sleeves, 48 so' shaft section 79 maybe slid to move the pinthat the grammar-47 15 effectively guided. j v The lower cutter bar 46' is provided with an enlarged, inner end 51:,having se'cured thereto 46 "a reinforcing plate 52. This plate isconnected by hinges ,53 with one end of the baseg36- so,

that the entire trimming mechanism 16 may be horizontally 'positionedjas in. Fig. 2 or vertically'positioned as inFig. 3. 45"

to the su'pport 36 near the hinges 53, said black 1 .et plate beingprovided with asubstantially T- shaped slot 55'. A pivoted: supporting arm 56 for ther-trimming mechanism 1 16,. operates in .50-the lower end of the opening 55- and is formed with a notch '57 to engage the plate 54 when the-- trimming mechanism 16 is to be held, in horizontal ,position, as seen in Fig. 2. swingingof the supporting arm 56 to release 65 its notch 57 from engagement with the plate 54, the I trimming mechanism 16' may be swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Infthe fconstruction' shown, theflarm 56 is piv- H oted at 58 to a lug -59 projecting downwardly 60-froma plate 60 which is secured against. the I lower side of the plate 52 andthe cutter. bar 46.:

When the trimming mechanism 16 isdownward 1y swung as seen in Fig. 3, the lug 59 is receiv-.

, able in .the opening 55, and I provide an appropriate'latch ,61 slidablycarriedby thev plate 54. and adapted to engagea notch 62 in thelug 59,. for holding said trimming mechanism in' its ver-.

tical position. The latch 61 is preferably pro- 1 vided with releasing portions 63 projecting later-. h ally in oppositedirections, and the lower end of. the arm 56 is provided with similar portions 64. Thus, when the ,operator is standing at either, side of the trimming mechanism 16,-1h'e may readily release either the arm 56 or the latch 61,

with convenience.

'min'g mechanism 16. This cap is providedwithfljtwo lateral arms'40 disposed in vertical planes and lying A .vertical bracket plate; 54 is rigidlyv secured Upon verse frame 66 which is secured upon the 'opposite 'ends'of the plate 52, said ends projecting laterally beyond the widened end 51 of the cutterbar 46, as seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. Rotatably .mountedwithin the frame 66, is a gear 67 whose mounting meansv 68 is perpendicular to the trim-.

This gear carries a stud 69 engageable with a transverse track 70 carried by the widened inner end 71 of the sickle bar 4'7, so that'as the gear rotates, the sickle bar will be reciprocated, The gear 67. is provided with two bevels '72 and73, either'of which :may

' engagea driving pinion 74 whichis also beveledj When the trimming mechanism 16 is horizontal as in Fig. 2, the pinion I74, engages the bevel '72,

butwhen. said trimming mechanism hangs'vertically as shown in Fig. 3, said pinion '14 engages the bevel 73. Pinion 74isjcarried by a telescopic shaft 75 driven by an electric motor 76 mounted on the support 36.

The shaft 75 embodies a fixed tubular section 77 secured at one end to the motor" shaft" and rotatably mountedat its other end in an appropriate bearing 78 "carried by ,the support 36. Slidable Within the tubular'section '77, isanother I shaft section 79' which carries the pinion 174/105 This shaft section '79 is provided with a transverse pin 80 slidably received inlongitudinal slots 81 formed in the tubular shaftsection 7'7. 'A hand grip 82 'slidably surrounds this shaft scction' '17 and is connected with the ends of the 1 pin 80, so that by operating saidhand gripy ne to'receive the pin 80; When the trimming mechanism 16 is horizontal, the shaftsection lil is telescoped to quite anextentwith the 'shaft sec tion "7'7, but when said trimming'meohanismlfi 12 is swung downwardly as in Fig. 3, the gear 67 moves. away from the pinion I4- and"it is then necessary to further extend the shaft section'79 to remesh the pinion 74 with 'said gear "67, such sliding of the shaft section 79 beingi'effectedbyigg the hand grip. 82. v

The servicewires 84 for the motor 76, preferably lead to a fuse block 85 carried by the support 36and then extend on to the motor. These wires are provided with a suitable switch 85 car- 9 ried by, the handle 11, and a portion of the wiring, may well'ex'tend' through a portion of fsaid handle, as illustrated in Fig. 4. An'othenpoiftion of thewiring may be coiled at 86 and provided v with a suitable device (not shown) for 3 holding it coiled; Thus, sufiicient slack is providedto allow turning .of the support 36 and connected parts about the pivot 15, without allowing the wiring to become tangled.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have trimmed by substituting a longer standard sec 33, above described.

Excellent results have been obtained from the general structure shown and described, and it may therefore be followed, if desired. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

1. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck, a base mounted thereon upon a vertical axis, a vertically extensible and retractible standtard mounted on said basefa substantially horizontal support hinge-dly mounted on the upper end of said standard upon a horizontal axis, means for holding said base against further turning when turned to a predetermined extent, means for holding said standard in vertically adjusted position, means for holding said support when swung to desired position upon its hinged mounting, a cutter bar hinged to said support to either project horizontally or to hang vertically therefrom, means for holding said cutter bar in either position, a sickle bar slidably carried by said cutter bar, a motor mounted on said support, and means for establishing a driving connection between said motor and said sickle bar when the latter is either horizontal or vertical.

2. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck, an elevated support mounted on said truck, a cutter bar hinged to said support to either project horizontally or to hang vertically therefrom, means for holding said cutter bar in either position, a sickle bar slidably engaged with said cutter bar, a gear mounted on the hinged end of said cutter bar on an axis perpendicular thereto, means operatively connecting said gear with said sickle bar for reciprocating the latter, a motor mounted on said support, a horizontal shaft mounted on said support and driven by said motor, and a beveled pinion carried by said shaft, said gear having one bevel to engage said pinion when the cutter bar is horizontal and another bevel to engage said pinion when said cutter bar hangs vertically.

3. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck, an elevated support mounted on said truck, a cutter bar hinged to said support to either project horizontally or to hang vertically therefrom, means for holding said cutter bar in either position, a sickle bar slidably engaged with said cutter bar, a gear mounted on the hinged end of said cutter bar on an perpendicular thereto, means operatively connecting said gear with said sickle bar for reciprocating the latter, a motor mounted on said support, a horizontal shaft mounted on said support and driven by said motor, a beveled pinion carried by said shaft, said gear having one bevel engage said pinion when said cutter bar is horizontal and another bevel to engage said pinion when said cutter bar hangs vertically, and means for moving said pinion into and out of engagement with said gear.

4. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck, an elevated support mounted on said truck, a cutter bar hinged to said support to either project hOIi'? zontally or to hang vertically therefrom, means for holding said cutter bar in either position, a sickle bar slidably engaged with said cutter bar, a gear mounted on the hinged end of said cutter bar on an axis perpendicular thereto, means operatively connecting said gear with said sickle bar for reciprocating the latter, a motor mounted on saidsupport, a horizontal shaft mounted on said support and driven by said motor, said shaft being formed of relatively fixed and slidable sections, a beveled pinion carried by said slidable section, the aforesaid gear having one bevel to engage said pinionwhen the cutter bar is, horizontal, and another bevel to engage said pinion when said cutter bar hangs vertically, a hand grip slidably surrounding said fixed shaft section and connected with said slidable section for sliding the latter to move said pinion into and out of engagement with said gear, and means for holding said slidable shaft section against accidental sliding when the pinion is engaged with the gear. p

5. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck, an elevated support mounted on said truck, a cutter bar hinged to said support to either project horizontally or to hang vertically therefrom, means for holding said cutter bar in either position, a sickle bar slidably engaged with said cutter bar, a gear mounted onthe hinged end of said cutter bar on an axis perpendicular thereto,

means operatively connecting said gear with said sickle bar for reciprocating the latter, a motor mounted, on said support, a horizontal shaft mounted on said support and driven by said motor, said shaft being formed of a tubular relatively fixed section and fa slidable section telescoped with said fixed section, said fixed shaft section being provided with a longitudinal slot and said slidable section having a pin slidable in said slot, a beveled pinion carried by theouter end of said slidable shaft section, said gear having one bevel to engage said pinion when the 'cutter bar is horizontal and another bevel to a support hinged to said cap on a horizontal axis,

trimming means mounted on said support, a pair of downwardly projecting plates secured in Car parallel vertical planes to said support and strad- I dling said cap, said plateshaving arcuate slots concentric with the hinge of said support, a pairv i of lateral arms rigidly carried by said cap and disposedin vertical planes against the inner sides of said plates, and means passing through said slots and engaged with said, arms and plates: for

clamping them together to hold the support in 1 adjusted position.

7. A hedge trimmer comprising a truck having a horizontal platform, a vertically extensible and retractible standard having a horizontal base resting on said platform, a vertical pivot conacting stops on said platform and base for limiting the turning of the base, standard and trimming means about said pivot.

,WILLIAM J. HEALY. 

